Helmet insert for concussion protection

ABSTRACT

The specification relates to a protection device that includes a helmet and an air sack. The air sack being mounted within the helmet and includes a one-way valve and a snap closure. The one y valve being used for inflation of the air sack and the snap closure being pressure sensitive and releasing pressure within the air sack when impacted by a high load.

BACKGROUND

The subject matter described herein relates to a helmet insert.Specifically, a helmet insert that can have an air sack with controlleddeflation.

Scientific research has concluded that sports in which a player isrepeatedly hit in the head and sustains multiple concussions during aplaying career, be it either professional or amateur, had detrimentaland irreversible effects on the brain. One such sport is football andrepeated, concussions have become a great concern with football players.During a football tackle, the inertia of the brain within the skullcauses it to impact the bone or cerebral fluid which can cause aconcussion. Helmets have been used for many years to cut down on therate of which concussions have been sustained. But research has shownthat current helmet technology is not advanced enough to stopconcussions from occurring.

SUMMARY

The disclosed technology relates to a helmet insert that is capable ofslowing the movement of the skull upon impact and prevents injury orminimizes the chances of head trauma or concussions.

Specifically, the helmet insert can be an inflated air sack thatsurrounds the head under a helmet. The inflated air sack can include asnap closure that is pressure sensitive. That is, the snap closure canopen a small hole when subjected to a high impact load. The air acts asa cushion and slows the head movement within the helmet insert as theair is released.

In one implementation, a protection device comprising: a helmet; and anair sack, the air sack being mounted within the helmet, the air sackincluding a one-way valve and a snap closure, the one way valve beingused for inflation, the snap closure being pressure sensitive andcapable of releasing pressure within the air sack when impacted by ahigh load.

In some implementations, the air sack is about 1″ thick, when inflated.In some implementations, the air sack is made of a durable material. Insome implementations, the snap closure includes a flap, a male closureand a female closure. In some implementations, the air sack includesarms that fold to the sides of the helmet.

In another implementation, a protection device comprising: a helmet; andan air sack, the air sack being moue ted within the helmet and capableof being inflated for use, the air sack including at least two sectionsbeing fluidly interconnected through a pressure control mechanism. Thepressure control mechanism capable of releasing pressure from a firstsection and building pressure in a second section when impacted by ahigh load. In some implementations, the air pressure within the firstsection and the second section equalizes when the high load is removed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The features, aspects and advantages of the disclosed technology willbecome better understood with regard to following description andaccompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to similarparts throughout the several views where:

FIG. 1 is a prospective view of a football helmet incorporating a helmetinsert of the disclosed technology;

FIG. 2 is a side view of a first implementation of an air sack of thedisclosed technology;

FIG. 3 is a side view of a snap closure of the disclosed technology;

FIG. 4 is a side view of a second implementation of an air sack of thedisclosed technology;

FIG. 5 is a top view of the second implementation of the disclosedtechnology shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a side view of a third implementation of an air sack of thedisclosed technology; and

FIG. 7 is a side view of a fourth implementation of an air sack of thedisclosed technology;

FIG. 8 is a side view of a fifth implementation of an air sack of thedisclosed technology; and

FIGS. 9-13 are examples of helmets in which the disclosed technology canminimize head trauma.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The specification relates to a helmet insert that is capable of slowingthe movement of the skull upon impact and prevents injury or at leastminimizes the chances of head trauma.

FIG. 1 shows a helmet 10 that includes an outer shell 12, a facemaskassembly 14 and a helmet insert 16, e.g., an inflatable air sack. Thehelmet 10 shown in FIG. 1 is a football helmet and is for illustrativepurposes only as the disclosed technology can be implemented in anyhelmet in which head trauma is to be minimized, e.g., helmets for carand motorcycle racing (FIG. 9), helmets for lacrosse and hockey (FIG.11), helmets for equestrian, bike racing, military and motorcycling(FIG. 12), helmets for baseball (FIG. 10), helmets for construction(FIG. 13), etc. Helmets for football and motorcycle and some baseballhelmets have side panels. Other helmets such as shown in FIGS. 11-13 donot, but other than the side panels, the air bags for these helmetsoperate in the same manner as described in this specification.

The air sack 16 is positioned, mounted and inflated within the helmet 10in such a way as to protect the head of a user under the helmet 10. Insome implementations, the air sack 16 can be mounted within the outershell 12 using hook and loop strips 15 adhered to the air sack 16 withmating strips located on an interior of the outer shell 12 but othermounting methods are contemplated, e.g., adhesives, snaps, etc. In someimplementations, instead of an air sack, the air sack can take otherforms such as an airbag or air pouch that functions similarly to the airsack discussed below. The air sack 16 can be about 1″ thick, wheninflated, and made of a durable material, e.g., tough plastic, PE,polyester, nylon, etc.

FIG. 2-6 show the air sack 16 removed from the helmet 10. The air sack16 can be refillable and can include a one-way valve 18 on a rear end ofthe air sack 16 for air inflation.

The air sack 16 can also include a snap closure 20 that is pressuresensitive. The snap closure can include a flap 22, a male closure 23 anda female closure 24. To inflate, the flap 22 is pivoted around hinge 24so the male closure 23 fits into the female closure 24. Once sealed, anair inflator hose can be connected to the one-way valve and the air sackcan be filled with air pressure from 15 to 100 psi, with an ideal rangeof 15 to 30 psi, depending on the activity in which the helmet will beutilized.

In use, when the inflated air sack 16 is subjected to a high load, thepressure increases within the inflated air sack 16 which in turn causesthe snap closure 20 to open thereby releasing the pressure within theinflated air sack 16. This release of air pressure reduces impact on auser's skull and minimizes the potential for concussions.

In some implementations, when the closure opens due to a pressureincrease, a colored area can be exposed on the air sack thereby alertinga person or persons (e.g. user, coaches, referees, medical staff, etc.)that a significant impact event occurred and showing an impact location.The air sack can be treated with a substance that is capable of changingcolor when impacted. For example, the sack can be coated with amicroencapsulated dye to show where impact occurred on the head.

In some implementations, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the air sack 16 canbe made with inflatable arms 28 that fold onto the sides adding sidehead protection for a user. These arms 28 are used for helmets that havesides, e.g., football and car racing helmets. The arms are not neededfor helmets that lack sides, e.g., bicycle and equestrian helmets.

The air sack 16 can further include top through-hole that removes heatand perspiration from user's head during use. The air sack 16 can alsobe lined with non-absorbent, wicking fabric 32 such as gortex to limitor remove sweat and heat buildup. The air sack can also include a numberof through tunnels 36 to remove heat and perspiration. The inner wallsof these tunnels 36 can also act as a reinforcing member and hold theinner and the outer surfaces of the air sack 16 together so thatinflation pressure can be increased without compressing skull andincrease helmet protection.

FIG. 7 shows another implementation of the disclosed technology. In FIG.7, a contained air system 100 is shown. The contained air system 100 caninclude elastic balloons 101 or a plastic accordion with compressionspring ribs 102. These compression spring ribs 102 can be located atperiphery, e.g., lower edges of sack. When a helmet receives an impact,air can be forced from one section 103-106 of the inflated air systemand forced into another section 103-106 of the contained air system 100via a pressure control mechanism 107. The contained air system 100 thenequalizes the air pressure between the sections 103-106 after the impacthas occurred. In other words, the contained air system 100 canaccommodate air moved at impact and reinject it back into the impactedsection.

The contained air system 100 can have an air sack 101 divided into twoor more sections 103-106 (e.g., 1-5″ squares) with internal walls110-112 containing a pressure control mechanisms 107, e.g., small holesor restriction valves. When hit, the impacted section collapses and thenrefills. In some implementations, a snap closure 115 release can beincorporated into the air sack 100 for the severe impacts, e.g., loadsin excess of 100 lbs.

The foregoing Detailed Description is to be understood as being in everyrespect illustrative, but not restrictive, and the scope of thedisclosed technology disclosed herein is not to be determined from theDetailed Description, but rather from the claims as interpretedaccording to the full breadth permitted by the patent laws. It is to beunderstood that the implementations shown and described herein are onlyillustrative of the principles of the disclosed technology and thatvarious modifications can be implemented without departing from thescope and spirit of the disclosed technology.

1. A protection device comprising: a helmet; and an air sack, the airsack being mounted within the helmet and capable of being inflated foruse, the air sack includes a one-way valve and a snap closure, the oneway valve being used for inflation, the snap closure being pressuresensitive and capable of releasing pressure within the air sack whenimpacted by a high load.
 2. The protection device of claim 1 wherein theair sack is about 1″ thick, when inflated.
 3. The protection device ofclaim 1 wherein the air sack is made of a durable material.
 4. Theprotection device of claim 1 wherein the snap closure includes a flap, amale closure and a female closure.
 5. The protection device of claim 1wherein the air sack includes arms that fold to the sides of the outershell.
 6. The protection device of claim 1 wherein the air sack includesa though hole to remove heat and perspiration.
 7. The protection deviceof claim 1 wherein the air sack is lined with a non-absorbent, wickingfabric.
 8. The protection device of claim 1 wherein the air sackincludes a number of through tunnels to act as reinforcing members.
 9. Aprotection device comprising: a helmet; and an air sack, the air sackbeing mounted within the helmet and capable of being inflated for use,the air sack including at least two sections being fluidlyinterconnected through a pressure control mechanism, the pressurecontrol, mechanism capable of releasing pressure from a first sectionand building pressure in a second section when impacted by a high load.10. The protection device of claim 9 wherein the air pressure within thefirst section and the second section equalizes when the high load isremoved.